Disentangling the knowledge and abilities to be targeted in patients suffering from dissociation: Development and validation of the knowledge and abilities about dissociation scale (KADS)

Abstract

Introduction

Recently, Dissociation-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (DF-CBT) has emerged as a new field of research, showing promising results. However, there is a lack of theoretical conceptualization regarding how patients develop specific knowledge and abilities to manage dissociation during this therapy. The aim of this study is to identify the knowledge and abilities that should be targeted within DF-CBT to reduce dissociation and its functional impact by validating a scale to measure them: the Knowledge and Abilities about Dissociation Scale (KADS).

Method

We recruited 515 participants online through social media. They completed several self-reported questionnaires, including the KADS, the Dissociation Questionnaire (DIS-Q), the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ), the Dissociative Beliefs Scale (DBS), and a visual analog scale measuring the functional impact of dissociation.

Results

We identified four factors composing the KADS: (F1) the ability to stop dissociation, (F2) the ability to accept and identify alters, (F3) the ability to identify dissociation, and (F4) knowledge about dissociation. We found good internal consistency for F1 and F2, acceptable consistency for F3, and low consistency for F4. F1 was associated with lower levels of psychopathology, while results for F2 and F3 were mixed. In contrast, F4 was associated with higher levels of psychopathology.

Conclusion

The KADS demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties and can be used in clinical practice. It differentiates four dimensions that could be targeted in psychotherapy. However, the ability to accept and identify alters (F2) requires further investigation to determine its potential clinical relevance.